Band-saw mill.



No. 658,l66. Patented Sept. l8, IQOOJ.

E. E. THOMAS.

BAND SAW MILL.

(Application filed July 22, 1899.)

3 sheets sheet 1.

(No Model.)

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I NVEN Ton EDWIN E.THQIVIAS.

N0. 658,l66. Patented :Sept. l8, I900. E. E. THOMAS.

BAND SAW MILL.

(Application filed July 22, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2. 1

(No Model.)

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Patented Sept. I8, 1900.

E. E. THOMAS.

BAND SAW MILL.

(Application filed July 22, 1899.]

(No Model.)

3 sheets -sheet 3.

FIG. 4.

WITNESSES. lm ENToR EDWIN E. THOMAS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN E. THOMAS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION IRONWORKS, OF SAME PLACE.

BAND-SAW MILL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 658.166, dated September18, 1900.

Application filed July 22, tags.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, EDWIN E. THOMAS, of the city of Minneapolis, countyof Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Band-Saw Mills, of which the following is aspecificamuch closer together than usual and enabling.

the employment of shorter saws.

The particular object of the invention is to improve the constructionand arrangement of the parts connecting the columns which bear the upperwheel.

To this end my invention consists generally in the combination, with themill-frame, including bearings for the upper and lower band-wheels, of abroken shaft connecting the opposite columns belonging to the bearingsfor the upper band-wheel.

In band-saw mills of ordinary construction the rocking shaft or thebalancing-levers that are employed to connect and support the columnsand to maintain tension upon the saw are arranged between the twobandwheels, necessitating a considerable space between said wheels andalso requiring the employment of long band-saws.

This invention consists particularlyin the combination, with thecolumns, of short rocking shafts, one for each, and a shaft paralleltherewith and having link connections with said short shaft, wherebysaid short shafts are connected and will rotate together as though in asingle piece, so that the vertical movement of the two columns will beexactly alike as the same rise and fall under the varied tension of thesaw or from movement imparted to either of the short shafts from thebalance or tension levers.

The invention further consists in the novel construction of the columnsand in a novel forward bearing for the shaft of the upper band-wheel;and the invention also includes base of the band-saw mill.

Serial No. 724,731. (No model.)

stood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of a band-sawmill embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3isa plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of theforward column and bearing of the machine. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionof the clamp for the counterbalance of the upper band-wheel. Fig. 6 is asectional view thereof on the line 00 :0 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detailedview of the rear column of the machine. Fig. 8 is a view taken from Fig.7 and enlarged from Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawings, 2 represents the 3 3 are the bracket-sthereon, each of which is provided with a vertical sleeve or. bearing 4for its column 5 5. The saw-table 6 and guides 7 and 8 may be of anydesired construction. The hangers or boxes 9 for the shaft of the lowerband-wheel 10 are preferably adjustable. The boxes for the shaft 11 ofthe upper bandwheel 12 are arranged in the upper ends of the columns 55. The rear column 5 is provided with a single yoke wherein the box orhearing 13 is pivoted. The box or bearing for the forward end of theshaft 11 is of a more complicated construction, inasmuch as a pivot-pin14, whereon the bearing 15 is swung, is adapted to yield and permit saidbearing to drop slightly when an unusual tension is placed upon the saw,as at the instant when the saw strikes into a log. The details of thisconstruction are shown in Fig. 4:. The column 5 is provided with an arch16 in place of the yoke upon the other column. The pivot-pin is held atone end by a swinging block 17, pivoted by a cross-pin 18 in one end ofthe arch 16. The opposite end of the pivot-pin 14 hangs upon a strap 19,that depends from the bracket extension of the arch, upon the top ofwhich is a rubber cushion 21, which latter is adapted to yield slightly(a small fraction of an inch) when the upper wheel is forcibly drawndown by sudden strain upon the saw. The pin 14 may be verticallyadjusted by means of the lock-nuts 22 upon the strap 19, the lower oneof which limits the vertical rise of the shaft and of the upper wheelwhen the strain upon the saw is released. The compression of the rubbercushion is such that the same will sustain the weight of the wheel underordinary running conditions. The box 15 is preferably renderedadjustable transversely by the employment of the screw-thread 23 on thepivot-pin 14 and within the hanger-block 17. As shown, the wheels thatsupport the band-saw are very close together, and to connect and supportthe columns I arrange between the columns the broken shafting to whichthe tension-leverage is applied and comprising the short shafts 24 24,which are in line, and the parallel shaft 25, which is considerablyremoved from the shafts 24 and 'is connected to the same by means of thearms 24 25' and the strong links 26, whereby the movement of one shortshaft is communicated to the other. The tension is applied to one of theshort shafts 24, preferably the rear one. The connection between eachshort shaft and the column above it is made by means of a rocker-arm 27,provided upon the short shaft and having a quadrant or sector 28,grooved to receive the equivalent hanging connection 28,extendingbetween the upper part of the sector and the lower end of thefoot 29, which is arranged at the lower end of the column-rod 30. Thecolumns are hollow an d hang u pon the upper ends of their column rods30. The forward column-rod is permanently secured in the footpiece 29 bysetscrews 31, while the rear column is rendered adjustable independentlyof the forward colu run for the purpose of tilting the upper wheel. Thisadjustment is secured by means of the jack-screw and lever 32 and 33,respectively. (Shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8.) The foot 29 in this case isprovided with the brackets upon which the lever 33 is pivoted and thescrew 32 rests. The lever 33 is in the form of a yoke, upon which theblock 34 rests, which block carries the weight of the rod 30, thecolumn, and the upper Wheel. In this manner adjustment may be madebetween the foot 20 and the column 5. -The upper band-wheel iscounterbalanced by means of the long lever 37, extending from the shortshaft 24 upon the rear side of the machine and provided with thequadrant or sector 38 from a rope or strap upon which the weight 39depends. The leverage is such that a very small weight at this. point issufficient to balance the upper wheel and the parts whereon the same issupported, The tension upon the saw is secured and regulated by means ofthe lever 40, pivoted upon the standard or post 41 on the rear corner orbase. This lever is provided with an adjustable weight 42, and the forcethereof is exerted upon the upper wheel of the mill through thedepending link 43, intermediately pivoted upon the lever and attached tothe counterbalance-rope 39 by a suitable clamp that is arranged at thelower end of the link 43. After the saw has been placed upon the wheelsand the upper wheel is raised into position by a very slight additionaldownward pull on the counterbalance-rope the lever 40, with its weight,is raised, and thereafter the clamp of the link 43 is secured upon thecounterbalance-rope, so that when the lever 40 is released its weightwill be exerted upon the lever 37 in addition to the weight of thecounterbalance, giving the required tension upon the saw. The clamp inthe link 43 is shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. As there shown, therope extends through an eye or guide 45 in the lower end of said linkand is bound therein by a gib. 45, the upper end of which engages ashoulder 45 in the link, and which gib is adjusted by means of ahand-wheel 47 and screw 48, all arranged within the lower end of thelink. To facilitate the removal of the tension from the saw and to lockthe tension-lever 40 in its raised position, I preferably provide thelifting and locking lever 46 upon the standard 41, said lever having asquare end 49 to engage the obtuse cam-arm 50 upon the lever 40, firstraising said lever and then by the engagement of the fiat or square endof the lever 46 with the straight surface of the arm 50 looking thelever 40 in its raised position, after which the clamp may be removedfrom the rope 39 and the upper wheel of the band-mill may be freelyraised or lowered until such time as it is again necessary to clamp thetensionlever to the counterbalance-rope and release said lever.

The principal advantage of my band-saw mill grows out of the .,closearrangement of the band-wheels, enabling the employ ment of shortband-saws, while permitting the employment of longer saws when theband-wheel is raised. This is only accomplished by carrying back betweenthe band- Wheels the connections of the columns.

It is obvious that my invention admits of various modifications, whichwill readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, and

I therefore do not confine myself to the details of construction hereinshown and described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent-- 1. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with thebase and the upper and lower bandwheels, of the columns for supportingthe upper band-wheel, column-supporting rods provided with foot-piecesdepending below the top of the lowerband-wheel, and suitable (comnections between said foot-pieces, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower band- Wheels, of the columns for supporting the upper band-wheel,the shortshafts mounted in suitable bearings, connections between saidshafts and said columns through which force is applied to exert tensionupon the band-saw, and means connecting said short shafts, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the columns provided with bearings for the upperwheel, the short rockershafts arranged beneath said columns, connectionsbetween said rocker-shafts and said columns, the rocker-shaft parallelto said short rocker-shafts and suitably connected thereto, and tensionmechanism connected with saidrocker-shafts, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a band saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the columns provided with bear ings for the upperwheel, the short rockershafts arranged below and connected with saidcolumns, the rocker-shaft arranged parallel with said shortrocker-shafts and suitably connected thereto, a tension mechanism and acounterbalance connected with said rocker-shafts, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the vertically-movable columns provided withbearings for the upper wheel, the rocker-shafts having suitableconnections with said columns, the parallel-movement connections betweenthe rocker-shafts upon opposite sides of said wheels, and suitable meansconnected to said shafts for maintaining tension upon the saw carried bysaid wheels, substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the columns provided with bearings for the upperwheel, the short rockershafts,con nections between said rocker-shaftsand said columns, suitable connections between said rockershaftseccentrically arranged with respect thereto, whereby said rocker-shaftsmay be caused to rock or turn in their bearings, and tension andcounterbalance mechanism connected with said rockershafts, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of vertically-movable columns provided with bearingsfor the upper wheel,

rocker-shafts provided upon opposite sides of said wheel, connectionsbetween said rockershafts and said columns, the parallel shaft 25mounted in suitable bearings and arranged out of line with saidrocker-shafts, arms upon all of said shafts, links connecting said arms,and a tension-lever connected to one of said shafts, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination, in a band=saw mill,

- with the base and the upper and lowerbandwheels, of thevertically-adjustable columns provided with bearings for the upperwheel, the short rocker-shafts arranged below said columns, a shaftmounted in suitable bear= ings and arranged parallel with saidrockershafts and connected thereto, whereby said rocker-shafts and saidparallel shaft are caused to move together, means for applying force tosaid shafts to maintain tension upon the saw carried by saidband-Wheels'and connections between said short shafts and said columns,substantially as described.

9-. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower band- Wheels, of the vertically-adjustable columns provided withbearings for the upper wheel, the short rocker-shafts arranged beneathsaid columns, the parallelshaft connected thereto and whereby saidrocker-shafts are caused to move together, means for applying force tosaid shafts to maintain tension upon the saw carried by saidband-wheels, a tension and counterbalance lever connected to one of saidshort rocker-shafts, a quadrant upon said lever, a counterbalance-weightsupported by said quadrant, and a separate tension-lever provided withadjustable means for connecting it with the means for supporting saidweight, substantially as described.

10. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the supports for the upper wheel,

connections between said supports whereby said supports are caused tomove together, the tension and counterbalance lever 37 provided with thequadrant 38, the rope or cord thereon, the counterbalance-weight uponsaid rope, the tension-lever 40 suitably weighted, a pivotal linkdepending therefrom and provided with a clamp for attachment upon saidrope, and a lifting and locking lever arranged to operate upon saidtension-lever, substantially as described.

-11. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upperand lower bandwheels, of the supports for the upper wheel, atension-lever 40 provided with a suitable weight, means connecting saidtension-lever with said supports to maintain tension upon the sawcarried by said band-wheels, and means for raising said tension leverand thereby relieving the tension from the band- Wheel supports, andmeans for locking said lever in its raised position to relieve thetension on the saw, substantially as described.

12. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the supports for the upper wheel, connectionsbetween said supports, a tension device applied to said connections, andprovided with a counterbalance rope and weight, a pivoted lever 40provided with a heel 48 and adjustable means for connecting said leverwith said rope, and a pivoted lifting and locking lever 46 arranged toengage said lever 40, and adapted to lock against said heel 48 and holdthe lever 40 in its raised position, substantially as described.

18. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the upper band-wheel andits supporting means, of a tension device connected to said supportingmeans and provided with a counterbalance rope and weight, a pivotedlever 40, a link connected to said lever and provided with an eyethrough which the counterbalance-rope passes, and with means forclamping said rope to said link, and means for raising and locking saidlever 40, substantially as described.

14. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and upper andlower band- Wheels, of the columns for the upper bandwheel,column-supporting rods provided with suitable feet, rocking shaftsarranged beneath said columns and provided with quadrants or sectors 27,flexible connections between said quadrants or sectors and the feet ofsaid rods, and a tension device connected with said rocking shafts,substantially as described.

15. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the base and the upper andlower bandwheels, of the columns provided with bearin gs for the upperband-wheel, rocking shafts arranged below said columns, a shaft mountedin suitable bearings parallel to said rocking shafts, connectionsbetween said parallel shaft and said rocking shafts, column-supportingrods, quadrants upon said rocking shafts, chains or cords upon saidquadrants connected to said rods, and a tension device connected to saidrocking shafts, substantially as described.

16. The column adjuster for band saw mills, comprising, in combination,the column-lifting rod, the rod-foot, the lever 33 thereon, the fork atthe lower end of the rod 30 resting upon said lever, the end of said rodextending into said foot, and an adjusting-screw applied between saidlever and said foot, substantially as described.

17. The combination, in a band-saw mill,

with the base, of the columns supporting the upper band-wheel, bearingspivoted in the upper portions of said columns, and a cushion arrangedabove one of said bearings and supporting it upon its column,substantially as described.

18. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the band-wheel-supportingcolumn, of a wheel-shaft bearing, a pivot-pin connected with saidbearing, a hanger pivotally supporting one end of said pin upon saidcolumn, and a cushion-support for the opposite end of said pin,substantially as described.

19. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the band-wheel-supportingcolumn, of a wheel-shaft bearing, a pivot-pin connected with saidbearing, a hanger pivotally supporting one end of said pin upon saidcolumn, said hanger being arranged upon one side of said bearing, and acushion-hanger for the opposite end of the said bearing depending from avertical extension of said column, substantially as described.

20. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the band-wheel-supportingcolumn, with an arch 16 upon said column, of the shaftbearing arrangedwithin said arch, a pivotpin connected with said bearing and supportedat one end upon said arch by a pivoted hanger, and the cushion-hangerdepending from said arch, and supporting the other end of saidpivot-pin, substantially as described.

21. The combination, in a band-saw mill, with the band-wheel-supportingcolumn, provided with the arch 16, of a wheel-shaft hearing arrangedwithin. said arch, a pivot-pin connected with said bearing and uponwhich said bearing is longitudinally adjustable, and a cushion-supportfor said pivot-pin, sub stantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of July,1899.

EDWVIN E. THOMAS.

In presence of-- C. G. I-IAWLEY,

M. E. GooLnY.

